Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Start getting periodontitis treated
• Part 2 of 3: Treating periodontal disease at home
• Part 3 of 3: Undergoing further treatment for periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a serious bacterial infection of the gums that, if left untreated, will eventually affect the gums, ligaments and bones that support your teeth, causing your teeth to fall out. The condition can also cause problems in the rest of your body and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as other serious health problems. Fortunately, periodontal disease can usually be treated and controlled to prevent the condition from becoming severe. Maintaining good oral hygiene is important to prevent periodontal disease, but once you have the condition, you will need to see a dentist or periodontist to be diagnosed and treated with a thorough dental cleaning. After that, the condition can be controlled by ensuring good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups at home. In some cases additional medical treatment may be required.

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Part 1 of 3: Start getting periodontitis treated

1. Get examined by your dentist. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums, take X-rays and determine the stage of gum disease by measuring the depth of the gingival pockets. He or she will then schedule you for a dental cleaning and give you instructions for good oral hygiene and dental care at home before you go to the appointment. It is very important that you follow these instructions carefully.
   • Your dentist may also refer you to a periodontist, a dental specialist who, after graduating as a dentist, has completed a three-year study in treating and controlling the effects of gum disease.
2. Have your teeth and gums thoroughly cleaned. During a dental cleaning, tartar is removed and the spots under the gums are cleaned and the roots are smoothed. The tartar is removed by scraping and ultrasonic equipment above and below the gums where aggressive bacteria grow. The bacteria on the tooth roots are also removed. This can be done with the help of a laser. The affected areas are thus disinfected, but it is difficult to control a laser with such a treatment.
   • It is not strange to be nervous about a thorough dental cleaning, but keep in mind that it is a very important step in treating a serious condition. Most people find the treatment quite tolerable.
   • Many dentists have several options for anesthetizing the gums for dental cleaning, such as topical anesthetic gel, injections, nitrous oxide, and in some cases anesthesia. If you are nervous, let the dentist know in advance and tell your dentist if you experience pain and discomfort during treatment.
3. Use prescription drugs. Your dentist or periodontist may decide that you need antibiotics to treat your periodontal disease. After the dental cleaning, he or she can insert antibiotic chips into the gingival pockets that slowly dissolve and release medication to kill bacteria in a small area without affecting your entire body. The doctor may also prescribe one or more of the following: oral antibiotics, a prescription antibiotic mouthwash, and a topical antibiotic gel to apply to your gums every day. Make sure to pick up these prescription remedies right away and use them according to the instructions.
4. Make a follow-up appointment. After the dental cleaning, you will need to see the dentist more often so that he or she can measure the depth of the affected gingival pockets and check that they are healing. If the treatment is not successful enough, your dentist will recommend further treatments.
   • The first follow-up appointment will probably be scheduled a month after the thorough dental cleaning. After that, you will need to have your teeth checked by your dentist every three months until the condition has healed.

Part 2 of 3: Treating periodontal disease at home

1. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Start with an 18-inch long piece of floss. Wrap the floss around both of your middle fingers, leaving a 3 to 5 centimeter piece in the middle. Then slide the floss between two teeth and slide it up and down and back and forth several times. Remember that plaque and food debris can get under your gums, which are the things you want to remove with the dental floss. Make sure to floss all your teeth and floss the entire area towards your gums, moving up or down as far as you can without hurting. Repeat the process on the next tooth, using a new section of floss. The floss will get dirty and fray. Make sure to floss two surfaces after sliding the piece of gum between two teeth. Once you've mastered this, the whole process should only take two or three minutes a day.
   • If you are unsure about your flossing technique, ask your dentist or dental hygienist for tips when you visit them for an appointment.
2. Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush two or three times a day. Make sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time, focusing especially on cleaning the edge of the gums. It doesn't matter which toothbrush you use, but an electric toothbrush works especially well. Also use fluoride toothpaste.
   • Since periodontitis is a bacterial infection, some dentists also recommend using a toothpaste with the antibacterial ingredient triclosan, such as Colgate Total.
3. Rinse your gums daily with an oral irrigator. If possible, purchase an oral irrigator or water flosser from a brand such as Waterpik, Sonicare, Oral-B, or Hydrofloss, and use the device twice a day.Such a device may seem expensive, but it works very well for treating periodontal disease and costs a lot less than a single dental cleaning.
   • An oral irrigator lasts for several years and works great for massaging gums, removing plaque and cleaning the areas around dental implants.
4. Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash two or three times a day. This will help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth and prevent further infections. If your dentist prescribes a prescription mouthwash, use it. Otherwise you can easily use an over-the-counter substance. Just make sure to read the packaging and choose an antibacterial mouthwash like Listerine or Parodontax.
   • You can also add some mouthwash to the reservoir of your oral irrigator and then clean your entire teeth under higher pressure.
   • Note that some prescription antibiotic mouthwashes can stain your teeth if you use them for an extended period of time (more than two weeks). These stains can be removed during the next dental cleaning.
5. Apply antibiotic gel if prescribed by your dentist. Your dentist or periodontist can prescribe an antibiotic gel to apply to your gums twice a day after brushing, flossing, and rinsing. This gel kills bacteria and helps control gum infection.
6. Take any oral antibiotics your dentist or periodontist prescribes. These oral antibiotics can help kill the bacteria that caused the gum infection and prevent new bacteria from growing in your gums, especially after surgery. Make sure to take the antibiotics according to your dentist's instructions.

Part 3 of 3: Undergoing further treatment for periodontal disease

1. Have surgery if necessary. In severe cases, periodontal disease must be treated with surgery. The simplest surgical procedure is flap surgery, in which your dentist or periodontist makes an incision in your gums, punches the gums back to remove the tartar, and cleans the infected bone and necrotic cement underneath. The flap is then folded back against your teeth and stitched.
   • By making a flap a large number of aggressive anaerobic bacteria can be killed. These bacteria are nearly impossible to kill, even with a thorough dental cleaning.
2. Get a gum and bone transplant. In severe cases, it may be necessary to undergo a gum graft that uses palate tissue or a synthetic membrane to replace damaged gum tissue. You may also need to undergo a bone graft or bone regeneration to replace bone tissue that is damaged and dead. These treatments are designed to minimize tooth loss and prevent gum infection from getting worse, which can seriously damage your gums.
3. Ask about the possibilities of a laser treatment. Recent studies have found that in some cases, laser treatments can work just as well as surgical procedures to treat and cure periodontal disease. Ask your dentist or periodontist if this might be an option for you. However, be aware that this is a new treatment that is developing rapidly and that a laser treatment is not always covered by insurance.
4. Research dental implants. In some cases, one or more teeth may fall out as a result of your periodontal disease. These teeth can then be replaced with high-quality dental implants. Talk to your dentist or periodontist to determine if dental implants are right for you based on your medical history and other health concerns.